INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 47 - No. 13—July 2, 2020 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Tseshaht bids farewell to Chantel Moore BC reopens Family yearns for answers after woman fatally shot during police wellness check despite First Nations’ concerns By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Port Alberni, BC – A lone eagle frolicked with the seagulls over the Somass River, feasting on the jumping salmon as mourners gathered on the riverbank to say their final farewell to 26-year-old Chantel Moore. Many wore yellow t-shirts or masks in honour of Moore’s favorite saying, ‘Stay golden’. Martin Watts organized the event, which took place on the afternoon of June 20 at Papermill Dam park in Port Alberni. “This was her favorite place to be, she would bring her daughter down here to swim or just to hangout,” he told HaShilth-Sa. More than 100 people were spread out over the lawn, seated on their own chairs. A loudspeaker was set up so that people could hear the speakers. Canopies were also set up to protect mourners from the occasional summer rain showers. White, fluffy eagle down drifted on the breeze as Robert Watts performed a prayer chant. He welcomed the people on behalf of Tseshaht Ha’wiih before joining singers as they performed two of the Ha’wiih’s songs. Martin Watts told the crowd that he thought it was important to do something for Chantel in Tseshaht territory because she lived there for six years. He told a story of how Chantel came to Port Alberni in the early stages of her pregnancy when she met Sebastien Fred. The young Tseshaht man took baby Gracie as his own. “He’s Gracie’s daddy,” Watts told the people. Watts went on to say that Chantel spent two years in his house when she began a relationship with his son Deion. “It is important to help out because she was family,” said Watts. “She was a loving happy person,” She worked at Tseshaht Market and her favorite snack was cheese sticks, made in store by Herman Watts. Tseshaht Market sent cheese sticks to the service in her memory. Chantel eventually sent Gracie to live with her mother Martha in New Brunswick, but she missed them. “It was just before Christmas when she left for New Brunswick; it hurt to see her go,” said Watts. But he said that his son and Chantel remained best friends, talking to each other every day. “He’d probably have a lot to tell the police; he spoke to her just an hour before the incident,” said Watts.
By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
Photo by Denise Titian
Bouquets of yellow roses and daisies were released ino the Somass River on June 20 as the service for Chantel Moore wound down, a symbolic means of loved ones letting her go. Moore was fatally shot by a police officer in New Brunswick on June 4. With his quavering, Joe Martin deMP Gord Johns attended the memorial, scribed the police officer who shot and stressed that he will be there to stand Chantel. in solidarity with the Martin family as “He is a big 300-pound black man that they seek truth and justice about what shot her five or more times,” he said. happened to Chantel. Moore was petite, less than half that “I have been friends with Chantel’s weight. mother Martha for 23 years,” he said. He thanked Johns for always being there “Gracie (Chantel Moore’s 6-year-old daughter) shouldn’t be here this way, say- for the family, always on the other end of the phone line. ing goodbye to her mother.” “I want justice for that young girl,” said Johns called it a senseless loss of life Martin. that should never have happened, vowBouquets of yellow roses and daisies ing to bring their message to the decision were released at the rapids as the service makers in Ottawa. wound down. Watts said this was their “We will demand action,” he said. way of symbolically letting her go. Joe Martin thanked Tseshaht for what Those closest to Chantel, including her they did for his granddaughter Chantel. mother and daughter, entered the water to “My family went [to New Brunswick], be refreshed as the flowers drifted past. what we saw and what we heard – it was A family member stood in the water with horrific,” he said. “I never want what happened to her to happen to any of you.” them, shaking a rattle to his prayer chant as the group plunged into the water, sobMartin said he believed that they were bing with grief. being followed by the police when they The group emerged from the water lookwere in New Brunswick, “and it turns out ing stronger. they were following us,” he said.
Inside this issue... Nations to get millions in forgiven treaty loans.........Page 3 Bamfield bus tragedy report.......................................Page 5 Changing the tide of salmon economics.....................Page 7 Finding health for west coast salmon................Pages 8 & 9 Haahuupayak graduates............................................Page 15
Victoria, BC - In a move to salvage its economy from the COVID-19 lockdown, the province is encouraging travel within the province this summer – a message that goes against the urging of multiple Indigenous leaders. On June 24 Premier John Horgan announced that B.C. has begun the next phase of its plan to reopen the economy. Moving into Phase 3 entails guidelines for hotels, resorts and movie theatres to reopen for business while following social distancing protocol to control the spread of coronavirus infection. “As we carefully turn up the dial on our activity, we can now look to travel safely around the province,” announced Horgan. “But as we hit the open roads this summer, we must remember we are not leaving COVID-19 behind, and we need to continue to do our part to bend the curve and protect the progress we’ve made.” The most recent numbers announced on June 29 shows 26 new cases in B.C. discovered over the previous three days, for a total of 2,904 infections since January. After a peak of almost 800 active cases in late April, this has declined to the low of 153 tracked on June 29, including 18 who are in hospital. First Nations people comprise 86 – or less than three per cent - of B.C.’s total infections tracked since January, according to data recently released by the First Nations Health Authority. Nineteen for those with the virus have been hospitalized, although none of these Indigenous patients remain in a medical facility. Three have died with COVID-19. With higher numbers in neighbouring Alberta and nearly ten times the count of infections south of the border in Washington State, British Columbia has emerged as a North American leader in its response this year to the coronavirus pandemic. But a growing number of Indigenous leaders are expressing concern that not enough is currently being done to protect their people this summer as outsiders venture to summer destinations. The Tseshaht First Nation sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging the government not to reopen the Pacific Rim National Park to visitors. Continues on page 3.
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2